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Refugees

2001

oil on canvas

36" x 24"

(SOLD)

KOSOVO: In 1999, over one million ethnic Albanians either fled Kosovo or were forcibly
removed by Serbian troops. Though neighboring states sheltered most, arrival
in camps was just one more step in a treacherous journey. Once a self-governing
federal unit of Yugoslavia populated largely by ethnic Albanians, Kosovo was
stripped of its autonomy in 1989, under the regime of Slobodan Milosovic. The
Serbian government staged a systematic oppression of Albanians including school
closures, massive lay-offs, and blatant violations of human rights. In 1998,
full-scale violence erupted when government security forces were deployed to
fight the growing guerrilla movement in the countryside. Nearly one million Albanians
left Kosovo that year in a mass exodus. Refugees often arrived at camps physically
exhausted and in poor health after several days of trekking. Others fared even
worse, victims of rape or violence from security forces, or having desperately
crossed minefields to reach their freedom. By the spring of 1999, Macedonia's
refugee camps were overflowing, housing tens of thousands of people in cramped,
unsanitary quarters. Hundreds of thousands eventually returned to Kosovo following
Milosevic's surrender to NATO. However, left to rebuild their homes, their government,
and their lives, their return can be deemed less of a homecoming and more of
an arduous new beginning.

KOSOVO: In 1999, over one million ethnic Albanians either fled Kosovo or were forcibly
removed by Serbian troops. Though neighboring states sheltered most, arrival
in camps was just one more step in a treacherous journey. Once a self-governing
federal unit of Yugoslavia populated largely by ethnic Albanians, Kosovo was
stripped of its autonomy in 1989, under the regime of Slobodan Milosovic. The
Serbian government staged a systematic oppression of Albanians including school
closures, massive lay-offs, and blatant violations of human rights. In 1998,
full-scale violence erupted when government security forces were deployed to
fight the growing guerrilla movement in the countryside. Nearly one million Albanians
left Kosovo that year in a mass exodus. Refugees often arrived at camps physically
exhausted and in poor health after several days of trekking. Others fared even
worse, victims of rape or violence from security forces, or having desperately
crossed minefields to reach their freedom. By the spring of 1999, Macedonia's
refugee camps were overflowing, housing tens of thousands of people in cramped,
unsanitary quarters. Hundreds of thousands eventually returned to Kosovo following
Milosevic's surrender to NATO. However, left to rebuild their homes, their government,
and their lives, their return can be deemed less of a homecoming and more of
an arduous new beginning.